Two piece center sill shroud for railway cars

Abstract

A metal shroud for protecting the center sill of a rail car from contamination from bulk material being carried having a pair of pieces longitudinally split and arranged to be affixed in overlapping relationship to the center sill. The pair of pieces of the shroud have a generally L-shaped configuration and have overlapping horizontal end portions. The end portion of the first piece is offset to contact the end portion of the second piece.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rail car for carrying bulk material comprising a car body being carried by a pair of truck assemblies at two ends of the car body and forming a compartment for receiving bulk material, said car body having a center sill extending along the longitudinal center line of said car body through said compartment,   shroud means being affixed to said center sill for covering the top portion of said center sill and protecting said center sill from contact with the bulk material being carried in said compartment,   said shroud means includes separate first and second pieces being longitudinally interconnected along said center sill, said first pieces having a first portion confronting said center sill, and said second pieces having a second portion overlapping said first portion, above said first piece.   
     
     
       2. A rail car for carrying bulk material comprising a car body being carried by a pair of truck assemblies at two ends of the car body and forming a compartment for receiving bulk material, said car body having a center sill extending along the longitudinal center line of said car body through said compartment,   shroud means being affixed to said center sill for covering the top portion of said center sill and protecting said center sill from contact with the bulk material being carried in said compartment,   said shroud means includes separate first and second pieces being longitudinally interconnected along said center sill, said center sill includes flat side walls and a flat upper surface, and   said first piece and second piece each includes a generally L-shaped cross-sectional configuration.   
     
     
       3. The rail car according to claim 2 wherein said first piece includes a vertical section for contacting at least a portion of one of said side walls of said center sill, said first piece further includes a horizontal section forming a flat portion for contacting an area of said center sill. 
     
     
       4. The rail car of claim 3 wherein said second piece includes vertical section for contacting the other side wall of said center sill, said second piece having a horizontal section overlaying said horizontal section of said first piece. 
     
     
       5. The rail car according the claim 4 wherein said horizontal section of said first piece includes an end portion lying in a plane offset below an intermediate portion of said first piece. 
     
     
       6. The rail car according to claim 5 wherein said end portion of said horizontal section of said first piece forms said center sill contacting portion. 
     
     
       7. The rail car according to claim 6 wherein a part of said horizontal section of said second piece overlays at least a portion of the top of said end portion of said first piece. 
     
     
       8. The rail car according to claim 7 wherein said intermediate portion of said first piece is spaced above said top surface of said center sill. 
     
     
       9. The rail car according to claim 8 further including a filler plate imposed between a part of said intermediate portion of said first piece and said top surface of said center sill. 
     
     
       10. A rail car for carrying bulk material comprising a car body being carried by a pair of truck assemblies at two ends of the car body and forming a compartment for receiving bulk material,   said car body having a center sill extending along the longitudinal center line of said car body through said compartment,   shroud means being affixed to said center sill for covering he top portion of said center sill and protecting said center sill from contact with the bulk material being carried in said compartment,   said shroud means includes separate first and second pieces being longitudinally interconnected along said center sill,   said first piece having a portion longitudinally extending over said center sill, and   said second piece having a longitudinal portion overlying said portion of said first piece in confronting relationship.